Achalasia Center - Kokomo, IN
Kokomo Gastroenterologist Doctors for AchalasiaType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Kokomo * Mary C Compton MD  Indiana Gastroenterology  Indiana Gastroenterology  Indiana Gastroenterology  Medical Associates of Grant County  Gastroenterology Consultants  Digestive Health Center  Anil Yakhmi MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Central Indiana Gastroenterology Grp  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Central Indiana Gastroenterology Grp  Central Indiana Gastroenterology Grp  Central Indiana Gastroenterology Grp  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Meridian Medical Group PC  Charles J Kahi MD  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  Indiana University Gastroenterology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  Indiana University Gastroenterology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  Hong Shen MD  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  IU Medical Group Gastroenterology & Hepatology  Lafayette Gastroenterology  Clarian Arnett Clinic North Lafayette  Clarian Arnett Clinic North Lafayette  Clarian Arnett Clinic North Lafayette  Clarian Arnett Clinic North Lafayette  David J Black MD  David J Black MD  Medical Consultants  Medical Consultants  Thomas L Gross MD  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Indianapolis Gastroenterology  Caylor-Nickel Clinic  Indiana Medical Associates  Heart Center Medical Group of Fort Wayne  Heart Center Medical Group of Fort Wayne  Indiana Medical Associates  Indiana Medical Associates  Indiana Medical Associates  Heart Center Medical Group of Fort Wayne  Chung Lee MD  South Bend Surgery & Specialty Clinic  South Bend Surgery & Specialty Clinic  Michiana Gastroenterology Inc  Michiana Gastroenterology Inc  Michiana Gastroenterology Inc  Michiana Gastroenterology Inc  Michiana Gastroenterology Inc  Michiana Gastroenterology Inc  Burton Boron MD  Elkhart Clinic LLC  GI Consultants  GI Consultants  GI Consultants  Elkhart Clinic LLC  GI Consultants  Indiana Medical Associates Kokomo, IndianaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-23
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AchalasiaWhat is achalasia?Achalasia is a rare disease of the muscle of the esophagus (swallowing tube). The term achalasia means "failure to relax" and refers to the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle situated between the lower esophagus and the stomach) to open and let food pass into the stomach. As a result, patients with achalasia have difficulty in swallowing food.
How does the normal esophagus function?The esophagus has three functional parts. The uppermost part is the upper esophageal sphincter, a specialized ring of muscle that forms the upper end of the tubular esophagus and separates the esophagus from the throat. The upper sphincter remains closed most of the time to prevent food in the main part of the esophagus from backing up into the throat. The main part of the esophagus is referred to as the body of the esophagus, a long, muscular tube approximately 20 cm (8 in) in length. The third functional part of the esophagus is the lower esophageal sphincter, a ring of specialized esophageal muscle at the junction of the esophagus with the stomach. Like the upper sphincter, the lower sphincter remains closed most of the time to prevent food and acid from backing up into the body of the esophagus from the stomach. The upper sphincter relaxes with swallowing to allow food and saliva to pass from the throat into the esophageal body. The muscle in the upper esophagus just below the upper sphincter then contracts, squeezing food and saliva further down into the esophageal body. The ring-like contraction of the muscle progresses down the body of the esophagus, propelling the food and saliva towards the stomach. (The progression of the muscular contraction through the esophageal body is referred to as a peristaltic wave.). By the time the peristaltic wave reaches the lower sphincter, the sphincter has opened, and the food passes into the stoma... Recommended Reading Related to AchalasiaWhat is dysphagia?Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty swallowing, derived from the Latin and Greek words meaning difficulty eating. Mechanism of swallowing Swallowing is a complex action.
Other Related Achalasia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Kokomo
Nearby Kokomo Hospitals *St Joseph Hospital Kokomo Howard Regional Health System West Campus Howard Regional Health System Main Campus Tipton Hospital Dukes Memorial Hospital St Vincent Mercy Hospital Logansport Memorial Hospital Logansport State Hospital Marion General Hospital St Vincent Frankfort Hospital VA Northern Indiana Health Care System Marion Campus Wabash County Hospital Riverview Hospital Community Hospital Anderson Witham Memorial Hospital St Vincent Carmel Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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